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CONSTITUTION 


OF  THE 


Evangelical  Missionary  Society 


MASSACHUSETTS . 


Worcester ; 


PRINTED  BY  WILLIAM  MANNING . 
JANUARY,  1818. 


Officers  of  the  Society  in  1818. 


Hon.  BENJAMIN  PICKMAN,  Jr.  President . 
Rev.  Ezra  Ripley,  D.D.  Vice-President, 

Rev.  Samuel  Ripley,  Rec,  £s?  Cor.  Secretary . 
Deacon  Jo  si  ah  Bridge,  Treasurer. 

Rev.  Francis  Parkean,  Vice-Treasurer. 

Trustees . 

Rev.  A. Bancroft,  D.D.  Hon.  Joseph  Allen, 
Rev.  John  Foster,  D.D.  Dea.  John  White, 
Rev.  A.  Packard,  Dea.  Moses  Coolidge, 
Rev.  N.  Thayer,  D.  D.  Breck  Parkman,  Esq. 
Rev.  Isaac  Allen,  John  Richardson,  Esq. 
Rev.  Charles  Lowell,  Ichabod  Tucker, 
Esq. 

Standing  Committee  for  Foreign  Missions. 

Rev.  Dr.  Foster,  Rev.  Mr.  Pierce,  Rev.  Mr. 
Lowell,  Rev.  Dr.  Ban  croft,  Professor  Sidney 
Willard,  Samuel  Parkman,  Esq.  Rev.  Mr*. 
Channingo 


/ 


PREFACE, 


THE  Evangelical  Missionary  Society  was  formed  in 
1807.  It  was  originally  limited  to  the  Counties  of  Worcester  and 
Middlesex.  Its  object  was  to  provide  the  destitute  inhabitants  of 
our  own  country  with  the  means  of  Christian  instruction  and  mor¬ 
al  improvement.  They  to  whose  management  the  pious  and  char¬ 
itable  purposes  of  the  Institution  were  first  committed,  were  ap¬ 
prized  that  its  utility  must  in  a  great  measure  depend  upon  the 
manner  in  which  the  assigned  duties  should  be  executed.  They 
deeply  felt  the  importance  of  their  trust,  and  on  the  result  of  the 
most  serious  deliberation  adopted  their  system  of  measures.  The 
history  of  Christianity  taught  them,  that  the  ordinary  effects  of  our 
religion  are  to  be  expected  from  the  stated  ministrations  of  the  gos¬ 
pel.  Instead,  therefore,  of  embracing  an  extended  field  of  mission¬ 
ary  labour,  and  countenancing  people  to  depend  on  occasional 
preaching,  they  selected,  on  due  inquiry,  the  most  suitable  places, 
to  which  they  exclusively  limited  the  stated  services  of  their  Mis¬ 
sionaries;  and  they  authorized  them  to  give  assurances  to  the  peo¬ 
ple  who  attended  upon  their  labours,  and  manifested  a  disposition 
to  maintain  the  regular  ministrations  of  the  gospel,  that  the  Society 
would  aid  them  in  .gathering  a  church  and  supporting  a  minister. 
This  encouragement  was  given,  in  the  expectation  that  the  many 
advantages  resulting  from  the  publick  institutions  of  the  gospel,  un¬ 
der  the  Divine  blessing,  would  be  the  means  to  increase  the  popu¬ 
lation,  and  promote  union  and  harmony  in  the  places  where  these, 
were  enjoyed;  and  that  the  people  thus  benefited  would,  in  a  fhort 
period  of  time,  be  able  and  willing  to  bear  the  whole  expense  of  the 
establishment.  The  Trustees  being  then  at  liberty  to  direct  their 
attention  and  charity  to  other  destitute  places,  indulged  the  hope, 
that  under  Divine  Providence  they  might  be  instrumental,  accord¬ 
ing  to  the  means  of  the  Society,  in  erecting  regular  churches  and 
establishing  evangelical  ministers  in  succession  among  people,  who, 
without  their  assistance,  must  long  have  been  destitute  of  these 
blessings. 

In  pursuance  of  the  plan,  instructions  were  given  to  Missionaries 
cautiously  to  avoid  interference  with  ordained  ministers,  and  with 
those  preachers  who  were  acting  under  the  auspices  of  other  Mis¬ 
sionary  Societies,  These  Missionaries  were  also  requested,  as  oy- 


4 


portunity  presented,  to  give  their  assistance  in  the  instruction  and, 
fuperintendence  of  schools;  and  a  proportion  of  the  means  of  (he 
Society  has  annually  been  appropriated  to  aid  in  the  support  of 
competent  instructers  of  children  and  jouth  in  places  where  the 
people  were  unable  themselves  to  defray  the  whole  expense 

Many  school-books,  catechisms,  and  valuable  publications  on  the 
great  truths  of  the  gospel  and  on  the  important  duties  of  the  Chris¬ 
tian  character,  have  been  presented  to  the  Society  by  individuals, 
which  they  have  distributed  under  the  direction  of  their  Missiona¬ 
ries  and  School -Masters 

The  missionaries  employed  proved  faithful  to  their  trust,  God 
smded  upon  their  labou  s,  and  the  publick  were  informed  of  (he 
success  with  which  the  humble  endeavours  of  the  Society  were  at¬ 
tended,  by  their  printed  Reports.  An  act  of  incorporation  was 
deemed  expedient,  which  was  applied  for  gnd  obtained  from  the 
Legislature  of  the  Commonwealth  . 

Experience  led  to  some  improvement  of  the  original  system, 
which  was  established  by  the  votes  of  the  .moiety  in  conformity  to 
the  principles  of  the  association  ;  particularly  to  the  appointment  of 
a  standing  committee,  to  appropriate  such  donations  as  individuals 
might  make  to  promote  the  general  purposes  of  a  foreign  mission. 
These  votes  in  substance  are  introduced  as  distinct  articles  of  the 
Constitution,. 

A  number  of  respectable  gentlemen,  not  resident  in  the  Counties 
of  Middlesex  and  Worcester,  approving  the  plan  of  the  Society, 
and  expressing  a  desire  that  its  numbers  might  be  augmented,  and, 
its  efficiency  increased,  proposed  that  the  Society  be  opened  for  the 
admission  of  all  in  the  Commonwealth  who  might  be  disposed  to 
promote  its  objects.  A  committee  was  accordingly  appointed  to 
take  the  proposal  into  consideration.  This  committee,  at  he  last 
annual  meeting,  reported  in  favour  of  the  measure  The  Society 
unanimously  accepted  the  report  and  appointed  the  subscribers  a 
committee  to  revise  and  alter  the  Constitution  in  conformity  to  it. 
They  have  attended  to  the  service  assigned  them,  and  present 
the  acceptance  of  the  Society  the  revised  Constitution. 

A  ARON  BANCROFT, 
JOSEPH  ALLEN.. 

Worcester ,  January ,  1818. 


CONSTITUTION. 


/ 


Article  1.  The  Society  shall  be  styled  The 

Evangelical  Missionary  Society  in  Massachusetts . 

« 

Art.  2.  The  great  object  of  this  Society  is  to 
furnish  to  the  destitute  inhabitants  of  our  own  coun¬ 
try,  the  means  of  Christian  instruction  and  moral 
improvement. 

Art.  3.  The  Society  shall  consist  of  all  per¬ 
sons  who  shall  subscribe  this  Constitution,  pay 
one  dollar  into  the  Treasury,  and  the  same  sum  an¬ 
nually  for  promoting  the  purposes  of  the  Institu¬ 
tion  ;  and  of  such  Churches  as  shall  annually  choose 
a  member  to  represent  them  and  pay  the  annual 
contribution. 

Art.  4,  The  Officers  of  the  Society  shall  be  a 
President,  a  Vice-President,  a  Treasurer  and  As¬ 
sistant  Treasurer,  a  Recording  and  Corresponding 
Secretary,  and  twelve  Trustees,  to  be  chosen  by 
ballot  at  the  annual  meeting.  Six  of  the  Trustees, 
at  least,  shall  be  gentlemen  in  civil  life.  The  Pres¬ 
ident  and  Vice-President  shall  ex  officio  be  of  the 
Board. 

Art.  5.  The  duty  of  the  President,  and  in  his 
absence  of  the  Vice-President,  shall  be,  to  regulate 
the  meetings  of  the  Society  ;  and  of  the  Trustees, 
any  five  of  whom  shall  form  a  quorum.  All  meet- 


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ings  of  the  Society  and  of  the  Trustees  shall  be 
opened  by  prayer. 

Art.  6.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Treasurers 
to  receive  all  monies  paid  by  the  members,  and  all 
donations  and  collections ;  to  keep  a  fair  account, 
and  to  exhibit  it  at  the  annual  meeting.  The 
books  and  accounts  of  the  Treasurers  may  be  in¬ 
spected  by  any  member.  The  Treasurers  shall 
give  bonds,  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Trustees,  for 
the  faithful  discharge  of  their  duty. 

Art.  7.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Recording 
Secretary  to  record  the  names  of  the  members, 
keep  accurate  records  of  the  proceedings  of  the  So¬ 
ciety,  and  exhibit  them  at  every  annual  meeting. 
The  records  may  be  inspected  by  the  members. 

Art.  8.  The  dut}'  of  the  Corresponding  Secre¬ 
tary  shall  be  to  correspond  with  other  Missionary 
Societies,  and  individuals,  agreeably  to  the  direc¬ 
tion  of  the  Society  or  Trustees  ;  to  preserve  on  file 
official  communications,  and  all  papers  entrusted  to 
him,  and  to  transcribe  such  as  may  be  required  by 
the  Trustees. 

Art.  9.  The  power  and  duty  of  the  Trustees 
shall  be,  to  carry  into  effect  the  design  of  this  Insti¬ 
tution  ;  to  regulate  their  own  meetings  ;  to  appoint 
a  Treasurer  and  Assistant  Treasurer,  a  Recording 
and  Corresponding  Secretary,  in  case  of  vacancy  in 
either  of  those  offices,  or  of  incapacity  of  such  Offi¬ 
cers,  to  serve  until  the  next  annual  meeting  ;  to  re¬ 
quire  the  attendance  of  the  Secretaries  to  act  offi¬ 
cially  at  their  board ;  to  call  upon  the  Treasurers  to 
exhibit  their  books  and  accounts  ;  to  receipt  for  all 
monies 'by  them  received,  and  to  use  and  apply  with 


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economy  all  monies  and  other  property  ;  to  appoint, 
contract  with,  direct,  send,  and  recal  Missionaries? 
Catechists,  and  School-Masters  ;  to  procure  and 
disperse  copies  of  the  Holy  Bible,  other  pious  and 
useful  books,  and  also  school  books  ;  and,  when 
necessary,  to  call  special  meetings  of  the  Society. 

Art.  10.  The  Trustees  shall  meet  twice  in 
each  year,  and  at  such  other  times  as  they  shall 
think  expedient. 

Ar  p.  11.  The  Trustees,  at  every  annual  meet¬ 
ing,  shall  report  their  doings  in  the  preceding  year? 
and  propose  such  measures  as  they  may  deem  use¬ 
ful  and  necessary. 

Art.  12.  This  Society  resolve,  that  no  persons 
shall  be  employed  as  Missionaries,  but  such  as  are 
“  sound  in  the  faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints,’’ 
approved  for  their  knowledge,  prudence  and  piety, 
animated  with  Christian  zeal,  diligent  in  their  prop¬ 
er  calling,  and  ready  “  to  endure  hardness,  as  good 
soldiers  of  Jesus  Christ.” 

Art.  13.  As  the  design  of  the  Society  is  to  aid 
similar  Societies  in  disseminating  “  the  knowledge 
of  the  only  living  and  true  God,  and  of  Jesus 
Christ,  whom  he  hath  sent,  whom  to  know  is  life 
eternal,”  so  it  will  ever  be  ready  to  encourage  and 
unite  with  them  in  measures  for  this  important  pur¬ 
pose,  and  to  form  the  closest  connexion  with  them.- 

Art.  14.  There  shall  be  an  annual  meeting  of 
the  Society  in  Boston  on  the  First  Thursday  in  Oc¬ 
tober,  at  such  place  and  hour  as  the  Trustees  may 
direct.  At  this  meeting  all  the  Officers  of  the  So¬ 
ciety  shall  be  elected,  and  a  first  and  second  Preach¬ 
er  appointed. 


8 

Art.  15.  There  shall  be  a  semiannual  meeting 
of  the  Society,  at  such  time  and  place  as  the  Trus¬ 
tees  may  direct.  At  the  annual  and  semiannual 
meetings,  a  discourse  shall  be  delivered,  and  a  col¬ 
lection  had  to  promote  the  objects  of  the  Institu¬ 
tion.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Trustees  to  appoint 
the  Preacher  at  the  semiannual  meeting,  and  to  give 
notice  of  ail  the  meetings  of  the  Society,  by  a  publi¬ 
cation  in  such  newspapers  as  they  deem  necessary# 

Art.  16.  There  shall  be  a  Committee  of  seven 
members,  to  be  denominated  the  Committee  for 
Foreign  Mission,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  receive 
and  appropriate,  under  the  control  of  the  Society, 
all  such  monies  as  may  be  designated  by  the  donors 
for  the  support  of  Missionaries  out  of  the  Common¬ 
wealth  of  Massachusetts,  and  for  the  distribution  of 
Bibies  and  Tracts  given  for  foreign  purposes. 

Art.  17.  All  questions  before  the  Society  shall 
be  determined  by  a  majority  of  the  members  pres¬ 
ent,  except  such  as  relate  to  the  altering  of  this 
Constitution.  If  any  amendment  be  desired,  it 
may  be  proposed  at  the  annual  meeting ;  but  it 
shall  not  be  adopted  until  the  next,  nor  then  without 
the  consent  of  two- thirds  of  the  members  present. 

Art.  18.  As  this  Society  is  voluntary,  it  is  ex¬ 
pected  that  all  the  Officers  will  gratuitously  render 
their  services. 


SUBSCRIBERS. 

Places  of  Abode . 


Names . 


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